No space for the ‘toxic populism’ of Fidesz in mainstream European politics

Renew Europe has today welcomed the de facto expulsion of Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz movement from the EPP Group in the European Parliament. For years, the EPP have shamefully provided legitimacy to Fidesz as they systematically deconstruct liberal democracy in Hungary.

President of Renew Europe, Dacian Cioloş said:

‘I welcome the long overdue departure of Fidesz and Viktor Orbán from mainstream European politics. Under Orbán, Fidesz has eroded democracy in Hungary & vandalised European values. Hungarian citizens, who are also European citizens, deserve a Government who will expand their rights, not undermine them. It is regrettable the EPP have harbored the slide to authoritarianism in Hungary for so long. There is no space for the toxic populism of Fidesz in mainstream European politics.’

Katalin Cseh, a Momentum Movement Member of the European Parliament and Vice President of the Renew Europe Group said:

‘The European People's Party has done the bare minimum, about a decade too late. But it's still heartening to see Parliament's largest political group deciding to stand up for principles and distance themselves from far-right authoritarians who trample upon European values and cozy up to Eastern dictators.

Of course the EPP were not the ones who dismantled democracy in Hungary — that work was done by Orbán and Fidesz. But they shoulder part of the blame. With a decade of dishonest compromises and complicit silence, a decade of blocking meaningful action, a decade of uncontrolled sums of EU money flowing to the pockets of Viktor Orbán’s oligarchs and family members.’

ENDS